Summer 2018. Alassane Pléa arrives at Borussia Mönchengladbach from Nice for €18 million. In North Rhine-Westphalia, the OL-trained player enjoyed six rich years with an impressive statistical record (197 matches – 56 goals and 37 assists) culminating in a sparkling Champions League campaign in 2020-21 (8 matches – 5 goals and 4 assists including a hat-trick against Shakthar Donetsk and two assists in a memorable draw at Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid).
Depending on the coaches and his placements on the pitch, the very versatile French striker had a more complicated 2022-23 season before returning in good form in recent months in an attacking midfielder role (7 goals and 7 assists in 30 matches in all competitions in a team in great difficulty and far from the standards that were theirs 2-3 years ago). 14th in the Bundesliga at the end of the season, one point ahead of play-off Bochum, Borussia Mönchengladbach is in serious financial difficulties.
A German club already in discussion with Pléa’s agent, other clubs will follow
Without a real headliner apart from Manu Koné and Alassane Pléa, Gladbach will have to shed one or both players to replenish its coffers. If the negotiations promise to be complicated for the former Toulouse player under contract until June 2026 with the German club, the Alassane Pléa case will be simpler to manage. At the end of his contract in June 2025, with a departure clause of €7 million and a comfortable salary, the former Nice player is more than ever on the move since Gladbach does not intend to lose a new major player at the end of the contract as with Marcus Thuram or even Rami Bensebaini who left free.
Pléa, only 31 years old, maintains a good rating on the market. A German club has already contacted Stéphane Courbis, the player’s agent. Other clubs should quickly come forward. In recent months, OL and Stade Rennais have come forward for information. At this price, with this experience and this versatility, there is no doubt that many of them will come knocking on the door of the club coached by Gerardo Seoane in the coming weeks.
